Netanyahu to hold consultations on possible hostage swap with Gaza factions

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to hold security consultations on Friday to discuss the potential for a hostage exchange agreement with Palestinian factions in Gaza, local media reported.

Netanyahu will meet with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a small group of ministers, and senior security and military officials, according to Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation.

Citing an unnamed Israeli source, the outlet noted that these consultations were initially scheduled for Tuesday evening to address issues related to Iran and Lebanon, with the agenda to now also include Gaza and Israeli hostages.

Iran has been anticipating a possible attack from Tel Aviv since early October, when it launched about 180 rockets toward the country in retaliation for Israeli assaults.

Through mediation by Egypt and Qatar, and with support from the US, Israel and Hamas have been engaged in indirect negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage exchange for several months. Hamas has repeatedly expressed its willingness to implement an agreement based on a proposal announced by US President Joe Biden in late May, accusing Netanyahu of trying to impose new conditions to prolong the war and maintain his position.

Israel currently holds approximately 14,000 Palestinian prisoners, while around 101 Israeli captives are believed to be in Gaza. Hamas has reported the deaths of dozens of these captives due to indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.

Tel Aviv has launched a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack last year, killing more than 42,400 people, mostly women and children, and injuring over 99,200 others.

The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 1,500 people and injured over 4,500 others since Sept. 23.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East was on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi